Welcome!

I've set up this blog so that all my friends, relations and colleagues in the world of writing can keep up to speed with what I'm doing - from now on, I'll never have to say sorry for not keeping in touch.

Friday, January 10, 2014

My guest on my blog
this month is contemporary novelist Pauline Barclay, who has flown in from warmer
climes to tell me a little about herself and her approach to writing.

Do sit down and
have a chocolate biscuit or several, Pauline. I’ve got some mulled wine for us,
too – it keeps out the cold!

Thank you so much, Margaret, for having me here, it is wonderful, a tad
chilly compared to where I live, but with your heating on high, I'm snuggly.

When and how and
why did you start to write fiction?

I've been writing for most of my life. When I was younger I wrote poems
and at the age of 11 I wrote a song that was sung by my class on Parents’ Day!
Over the years I've written around 15 short stores and six full length novels.
The first two novels are confined to the archive on my laptop! As for the short
stories, one of these was dusted down, re-written and edited by my editor for
Christmas. Maybe in the future I will delve back into the archives and take
another peek. As for how I got into writing fiction, I can’t really remember. I
have always had an over-imaginative mind. My mother often said to me when I was
younger, "Pauline, you're in a world of your own!"

Do you come from a
creative or artistic family or are you the odd one out?

My mum used to be creative, not writing but making things. When my
sister and I were young, she made many of our dresses and knitted all our
jumpers and cardigans, often from her own designs. In later years she made soft
furnishings, foot stools etc. One of my brothers loves to cook and is very
creative with his cooking. I am the only writer so far!

What time of day do
you write - morning, afternoon, evening, any time?

I tend to write in the afternoon when I have dealt with all my other
responsibilities. Otherwise all I have to do would peck away at my head and I
wouldn't be able to concentrate.

What's your
favourite part of the writing process - planning, writing the first draft,
editing?

I enjoy it all, though I do enjoy the first draft and the editing
process. Planning to me is ongoing. The main plot is there, but as my
characters grow and become real they often take me down a road or into a
situation I had not initially planned.

What are you
working on now?

I am working on book 5, sorry no title yet, not even a working one! This
book has been a challenge so far, but it is slowly moulding itself into
something I am feeling more and more confident with. I'm about half way with the first draft on my
laptop, but the plot is complete in my head!

What's your best
advice for anyone starting to write fiction?

Oh I don’t think I am one to give advice, only to say have a go and
whatever you do enjoy it. Should you want to take it to publication, then make
sure you use a professional editor, not only will they help polish your book,
but they will teach you a great deal on how to write your story beautifully.

Five quick
questions:

Cat or dog or
budgie person or no pets at all?

Dog without hesitation, we have two gorgeous doggies.

What precious
possession would you save from a flood?

This is tough, and I'm assuming we are not talking people or pets, so
I'm going to say my laptop.

Who is your major
literary inspiration?

Mmm, not sure I can answer this! There are many, but I would like to add
one lady author who has been an inspiration to me and took me under her wing a
few years back and that is historical novelist Helen Hollick

Margaret James The Silver Locket

Margaret James Elegy for a Queen Kindle Edition

About Me

I'm a novelist, journalist and teacher of creative writing for the London School of Journalism. I've written fifteen published novels and lots of short stories, one of which was published in the RNA's Golden Anniversary anthology, Loves Me, Loves Me Not - am very proud of that!